Hem construction for lengthening drapes and the like



Nov. 17, 1964 P. COLIGNON HEM CONSTRUCTION FOR LENGTHENING DRAPES ANDTHE LIKE Filed Oct. 2, 1962 Fly. 5 L IgQ R couGNG MAM M ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,156,928 HEM CQNE'ETRUETEGN F03 LENGTHENING DRAPES ANA)THE LEKE Nora 1. Coligncn, Chesterland, Ghio (11 Nob Drive, QhagrinFalls, Ohio) Filed Get. 2, 15 62, Ser. No. 227,841 1 (Ilaim. ($1. 2-443)This invention relates, as indicated, to a method of and means forlengthening drapes and the like.

In my copending US. application, Serial No. 179,432, filed March 13,1962, now abandoned, there is disclosed a method of and means forlengthening and shortening garments and the like, and which is alsodescribed as adapted for use in connection with draperies, bedspreads,valances, etc.

The method, as described in said copending application is particularlyadapted for use in connection with lined garments, drapes, etc., but isof little or no utility in connection with unlined drapes.

The present invention has, as its primary object, the provision of amethod of and means which is particularly useful for adjusting thelength of unlined drapes and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and means of thecharacter described, in which the material of the drape which is used toprovide the hem is secured together at predetermined levels or points bylines of stitching or felling which are substantially concealed fromview, yet are easily accessible for removal when the length of the drapeis to be adjusted.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following escription.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a drape embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the drape lengthenedapproximately one inch;

Fl G. 4 is a view similar to F16. 2, but with the drape lengthened abouttwo inches, and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the drape lengthened aboutthree inches.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed anunlined drape having a front face 1, which is the face normally exposedto the interior of the room in which the drape is hung, and a rear ornormally concealed or unexposed face 2.

The drape is provided at its lower edge with a hem which is formed byfolding the lower portion of the drape to provide a series of flaps orpleats 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 161, all of which lie in planessubstantially parallel with the face 2 of the drape and with each other.

The flaps or pleats are formed by folding the material of the drape atpoints which are designated by reference numerals 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 1'7 and 13.

The flap 3 lies in contiguity with the face 2 of the drape, and isone-half inch in height, extending from the fold line 11 to the foldline 12. The flap 4 lies in contiguity with the rear face of the fiap 3,and is likewise about onehalf inch in height, extending from the foldline 12 to the fold line 13. It may be noted, in this connection, thatthe fold line 13 is at a slightly higher elevation than is the fold line11, so that the fold line 13 is concealed from the view of a personviewing the front face 1 of the drape.

The flap 5, which extends from the fold line 13 to the fold line 14, isapproximately one inch in height, so that its lower portion lies incontiguity with the rear face of the flap 4, and its upper portion liesin contiguity with the face 2 of the drape.

The flaps 3 and 4 are sewn together, adjacent the fold line 13, as by aline of stitching 19, which stitching is in the nature of felling, thatis to say, threads which attach the flaps 3 and 4 securely at the foldline 13, yet can easily be removed by merely pulling one end of thethread. The line of stitching 19 extends parallel with the fold lines 11and 13.

The flap 6, which extends from the fold line 14 to the fold line 15, isapproximately one-half inch in height, so that it lies in contiguitywith the rear face of the upper portion of the flap 5.

The flaps 5 and 6 are sewn together, adjacent the fold line 15, as by aline of stitching 20, similar to the stitching 19, and parallel to thelatter.

The flap 7, which extends from the fold line 15 to the fold line 16, isapproximately one inch in height, so that its lower portion lies incontiguity with the rear face of the flap 6, and its upper portion liesin contiguity with the rear face 2 of the drape.

The flap 8, which extends from the fold line 16 to the fold line 17, isapproximately one-half inch in height, so that it lies in contiguitywith the rear face of the upper portion of the flap 7.

The flaps 7 and 8 are sewn together, adjacent the fold line 17, as by aline of stitching 21, similar to the stitching 19 and 2.0, and parallelthereto.

The flap 9, which extends from the fold line 17 to the fold line 18, isapproximately one inch in. height, so that its lower portion lies incontiguity with the rear face of the flap 8, and its upper portion issubstantilaly coplanar with the flap 8.

The flap 10 extends from the fold line 18 to a point in spaced relationto the fold line 16, and lies in contiguity with the rear face 2 of thedrape.

The flaps 9 and 119 are sewn together and to the body of the drape, asby a line of stitching 22, adjacent the fold line 18, and parallel withthe lines of stitching 19, 20 and 21.

It may be noted at this point, that in spite of the substantial numberof flaps which constitute the hem of the drape, as described, that theflaps are so nested in relation to the body of the drape and in relationto each other, as to increase the thickness of the lower end of thedrape to a minor or inconsequential degree, which does not mar or renderthe drape bulky to an excessive degree.

When it is desired to lengthen the drape one inch, the felling 19 ispulled out, and the flaps 3 and 4 permitted to drop to the positionshown in FIG. 3. The fold lines 11, 12 and 13 can then be easilyobliterated by pressing the drape in the area of these fold lines.

When it is desired to lengthen the drape two inches, the felling 19 and20 is pulled out, and the flaps 3, 4, 5 and 6 permitted to drop to thepoistion shown in FIG. 4. The fold lines 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 can thenbe easily obliterated by pressing the drape in the area of these foldlines.

When it is desired to lengthen the drape three inches, the felling 19,2t] and 21 is pulled out, and the flaps 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 permitted todrop to the position shown in FIG. 5. The fold lines 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16 and 17 can then be easily obliterated by pressing the drape in thearea of these fold lines.

It will be understood that any number of flaps and fold lines may beused, in order to permit lengthening of the drape to an extent greaterthan provided in the drape shown and described. Moreover, the height ofthe flaps and the spacing of the fold lines may be varied to ermitadjustments in the hem in increments greater or less than thatdescribed.

It will also be understood that the drape may be shortened by a reversalof the described procedure of lengthening the drape.

Although the invention has been described particularly with reference tothe lengthening of drapes, it is to be understood that the method andmeans, as described, is also applicable to unlined skirts, sheath-typedresses, coats, jackets, sleeves, bedspreads, valances, etc.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of partsthereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

An adjustable hem construction for an unlined drapery panel having afront face and a rear face, said construction comprising a plurality offlaps, as follows:

( 1) a first flap consisting of three layers of fabric formed from thefabric of said panel by folding said fabric to provide a first layer offabric extending upwardly along the rear face of said drapery panel,from a first fold line extending across the Width of said panel, alongthe bottom edge of said panel to a second fold line extending across thewidth of said panel;

a second layer of fabric extending downwardly and extending along theback of said first layer of fabric and almost to the first fold line andterminating in a third fold line, said third fold line extending acrossthe width of said panel;

a third layer of fabric extending upwardly and having a first portionextending along the back of said downwardly extending second layer offabric to the second fold line and a second portion extending upwardlybeyond said second fold line and disposed against the rear face of saiddrapery panel along a portion substantially equal in length to thelength of said first layer of fabric, said second portion constitutingthe first layer of the next succeeding flap; and

a line of removable stitching temporarily binding said first and secondlayers together along said third fold line;

(2) a plurality of additional flaps each constructed in the same manneras said first flap and extending between said first fiap and a finalflap, there being a line of removable stitching temporarily binding thefirst and second layers of fabric in each of said additional flaps alongthe fold line connecting the second and third layers of fabric of eachof said additional flaps;

and (3) a final flap consisting of an upwardly extending extension ofthe third layer of fabric of the last of said additional flaps, foldedover on itself and spaced from the rear face of said drapery panel bythe downwardly extending end of said panel which results from said lastfolding over, and a line of removable stitching temporarily securing thefolded over portion of said final fiap to said drapery panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JORDAN FRANKLIN,Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WELLIAMOWSKY, RUSSELL C. MADER,

Examiners.

